Dr. Shari McDaid:

That is a perfect storm - an increase in need and inadequate resourcing. In the face of that, staff will increase the threshold at which people can access mental health services. Ironically, it may be more difficult now for CAMHS to do the kind of outreach and interaction in schools that they should be doing than might have been the case ten years ago. The Deputy is correct to state that it should be happening. If a school has a concern about a child, it should find it relatively easy to contact CAMHS and get advice, support and guidance on whether the child should be referred, but we do not get a sense that this is routinely available across the country. I am just pointing out why that might be the case. It is not enough simply to blame CAMHS and say that they should be more open. There must also be adequate mental health support throughout the system - within the school, in primary care and in CAMHS.